The Yurd Way Too Early NHL Predictions
With the NHL regular season just around the corner and the preseason underway, I've decided to come up with my top teams in each conference. I’ll be picking my top 3 contenders in each conference who I think could win the Cup, plus a dark horse who I could see make a Kings like run, so here we go…
Best of the West
Dallas Stars: Now I don't know about you, but I have these Dallas Stars this season, They will make a major improvement from last year. They’ve upgraded their goaltending (finally), the addition of a big defensive defencemen like Marc Methot will for sure take away some of their defensive struggle. Even with the loss of Sharp, they added Radulov, he finally grew up since his Nashville days. Who, maybe the greasiest looking Russian in the league (sorry Ovi), but his passing ability will definitely stretch the ice some more for players like Benn and Seguin. Let’s not forget Big Kenny on the bench, I think Lindy Ruff was a good coach, however I think Ken can bring these guys to new heights. The Stars are gonna be shining this year.
Prediction: Western Conference Finals.
Edmonton Oilers: I know this will be a fan favourite. After leading his team to the first playoff appearance since that dreadful Cup Finals loss to the Hurricanes, McDavid finally gets a full season in and he looked unstoppable. The resigning of Leon, another season older for Connor, I love me some Lucic, plus I’ve always been high on Nurse who I think is gonna be a monster in a few more years adds more experience to which they need. I have the Oilers making a run, the only thing that holds me back from getting a Cup is Cam Talbot, he still makes me nervous, and I’m not too sure if the Oilers somehow struggle, he can be relied on to carry a team throughout the playoffs. McJesus has arrived.
Prediction: Western Conference Finals.
Chicago Blackhawks: Ah well, isn't this a more obvious choice, sorry folks but common, they're the Hawks. They have restructured their coaching staff, added in some new pieces, brought back some old pieces and you can’t tell me guys like Kane, Toews and Keith aren't hungrier than ever after being dismantled last year by the Predators. I like the addition of adding back Saad and I do not feel bad about Kane losing his best bud. Toews with Saad is better than Kane with Panarin, if you’re more interested in winning cups than winning scoring championships. The Hawks are hungry.
Prediction: Semi Finals.
The Darkhorse…
Calgary Flames: This is gonna be a reach I’m telling yah but here's why… Johnny Hockey is not going to have another slow start to the season, Tkachuk with some more experience is gonna be a Brad Marchand type player, although I think he’ll be way less greasy than Marchy, and I think their D end might be one of the best in the league. Their top 4 look great, Gino, Dougie, Brodie and the addition to Hamonic not only makes them defensively sound but gives them a lot of offensive fire power. In all honesty, I’ve never been an Elliott fan, and I like Mike Smith, don't let the preseason fool you, I believe he will have a good year, will post some decent numbers, but if he gets hot come playoff time, watch out. Flames gonna be streaky.
Prediction: They could go all the WAY
The Beasts from the East
Pittsburgh Penguins: Common guys, did you not think I was gonna put these guys first? Sidney Crosby is still the best player in the NHL (sorry McDavid fans). Malkin might be arguably one of the best Russians to ever touch a NHL surface, they are 4 lines of just fast, strong, deep, hockey players. They won a cup with their best D injured and Maatta playing like shit. Although his after party performance was Conn Smythe material. Matt Murray, need I say more, 2 Cups as a rookie. To come into the NHL as a goalie at such a young age is hard enough, to do what he has done, that's just memorizing. To get back to Crosby, I’ve heard rumblings that this guy is OBSESSED with going 3 in a row. You ever hear people say, “Oh ya, he eats, sleeps and breaths...”. Well ya, Crosby’s whole world revolves around hockey. He eats hockey pucks for breakfast, sleeps with the Stanley Cup and breathes hockey. Crosby’s career year.
Prediction: Stanley Cup Finals.
Columbus Blue Jackets: I’m a big believer in, a coach can really make a difference and do I ever love me some Torts, I think he's such a great coach, and I think he's a some who really cares about his players. Plus he's entertaining as hell when he gets into it with the media. Although they traded away Saad, I think Panarin will give them a boost in offence, Zach “The Warrior” Werenski is gonna be a top offensive D in the NHL and Sergei Bobrovsky is going to have a Vezina Trophy type year. Barring the Blue Jackets run into the Pens early in the playoffs, I could see them going fairly deep, making a big impact and just simply suffocating teams throughout the year. Bobrovsky or bust.
Prediction: Lose to the Penguins at some point.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Let’s be honest folks, the Atlantic is not even close to being as strong as the Metropolitan, however I do believe the Lightning are an outlier in this. They keep their core of guys (let’s hope they can all stay healthy), I know Kunitz is getting old but I believe he will bring a winning culture to Tampa Bay. Guys, he has four Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal, that doesn't happen by accident, he’s still got some gas left in the tank and I think this was a great pickup for them. On the backend they got Dan Girardi, adding another veteran type person will only help this team out. Let’s hope Andrei Vasilevkiy can play up to the hype and be able to lead his team back to the promise land since the great Cup win over the Flames (still on of my all time favourite Stanley Cup Finals). Stammer, please stay healthy.
Prediction: Eastern Conference Finals.
The Darkhorse…
Florida Panthers: I think last year was just a total mess for these guys, losing Huberdeau, whatever the hell was going on with the front office, a distraction like that is only going to hurt the team. Now back to the positive, I love their forwards, Barkov is a beast, Trocheck is great, I think Vrbata and McGinn is going to add some more depth for them and in all honesty, I'm higher on their D than most. I’m hoping Bobby Luo can finally get a Cup he rightfully deserves. If the Panthers can stay healthy, and have no distractions off the ice, I can see them grabbing a 7th or 8th seed in the East and pulling off a Disney Movie like performance and catching the hockey world by storm. Panthers clawing their way in.
Prediction: Roberto Luongo for the win.
Hot Take: Crosby goes back to back to back with Cups and Conn Smythes, while racking up the end of the year NHL awards. Cementing him as possibly the greatest Penguin ever.
